The Divine Beast Pixiu

Because Kazuhiko Uchiha had captured Xiao Li at the goddess's statue ahead of time, the original story's events, in which the three protagonists seized the Dragon Soul and destroyed the War Demon God, never happened.

While Gongshu Chou explored how to control the War Demon God, Gai Nie appeared just as he had in the original story. To stop the Qin from obtaining the War Demon God, he once again fought a fierce battle against the demonized Wei Zhuang.

Kazuhiko Uchiha did not interfere in their fight. He took the opportunity to snatch up the weakened little Pixiu and inspect its information through the system.

[Divine Beast Pixiu]: The Divine Dragon's ninth child. Feeds on metal and can voluntarily enter prolonged dormancy when not eating.

Current state: Juvenile, normal form

Strength: Black Iron Rank (can grow to Gold Rank at its peak)

Seeing the little Pixiu's immense potential to reach Gold Rank, Kazuhiko Uchiha immediately opened the Myriad Worlds Mall and spent 20 gold coins on a Black Iron Rank Pet Contract, binding the little Pixiu as his pet. He then spent another 50 gold coins on a Pet Space that could house ten pets, intending to take it back to the Naruto World after completing the mission.

After taming the little Pixiu, Kazuhiko Uchiha activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and focused intently on copying the Vertical and Horizontal Swordsmanship that Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie each possessed.

"Hundred-Step Flying Sword!"

"Eight Directions Crosswise!"

In yet another clash between vertical and horizontal, Gai Nie, who had been suppressed by the demonized Wei Zhuang throughout the fight, suddenly unleashed his strength and drove his sword through Wei Zhuang's chest.

Seeing their battle draw to a close, Kazuhiko Uchiha darted into the fray and forced Gai Nie back with a single move.

"It seems you aren't strong enough to master the Chiyou Sword."

Looking at Wei Zhuang, whose mind had cleared, Kazuhiko Uchiha teased him with a smile and used [Blood Healing Technique] on him, healing his bleeding wound. Then he put the Chiyou Sword into his System Space.

"Senior brother, leave. Next time, I will defeat you." Looking at the battered Gai Nie, the proud Wei Zhuang disdained taking advantage of his weakened state and chose to let him go.

Gai Nie was already at the end of his strength. Unable to stop the War Demon God rampaging through Rōran, he could only settle for protecting Tianming and Shaoyu as they left the city.

"Hahahaha! I've finally figured out how to control the War Demon God!"

After repeated attempts, Gongshu Chou finally worked out the precise controls for the War Demon God from within its central control room.

"Be destroyed, Rōran!"

Powered by the Dragon Soul, the mountain-sized War Demon God began to move. Flames spewed from its mouth, burning everything to ashes.

"Goddess, I failed."

Xiao Li murmured beside Kazuhiko Uchiha. As she watched Rōran wail amid the flames, hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

Xiao Li's body began to glow, gradually becoming insubstantial until she vanished completely, leaving behind only a string of deep-blue Goddess's Tears.

"When flames and hot tears intertwine, the Divine Dragon's power will awaken once more within the Dragon Soul."

Kazuhiko Uchiha recalled those words from the original story and the way the little Pixiu had obtained the Divine Dragon's power. After considering it for a moment, he threw the Goddess's Tear toward the War Demon God.

The Goddess's Tear struck the War Demon God, and its gems shattered, turning into a surge of blue divine power. At the same time, a tremendous surge of dragon essence burst out of the War Demon God's body and merged with the blue fragments, forming new Divine Dragon power that poured into the little Pixiu's body.

After absorbing that immense energy, the once-weakened little Pixiu grew strong. Its body developed rapidly, transforming into a massive, winged, lion-like battle form.

"Hahaha! Just as I thought. Little Pixiu, return to your dormant state."

Kazuhiko Uchiha stroked the little Pixiu's body in its battle form, thoroughly pleased with its increased strength. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he had it return to its copper-ball-shaped dormant form, then put it into his Pet Space.

Under Gongshu Chou's control, the War Demon God soon destroyed all of Rōran. Countless citizens perished, and the wondrous city-state in the desert ceased to exist.

With all their enemies dealt with, Wei Zhuang ordered everyone to leave Rōran and return to the desert through the underground river.

After they returned to the frontier town, the War Demon God was escorted safely back to Xianyang by tens of thousands of Qin soldiers, finally bringing the mission to an end.

After completing the mission, Kazuhiko Uchiha did not rush to return. Instead, he sought out Gongshu Chou again and used his identity as a member of the Chiyou Clan to enter the War Demon God's body.

"Master Gongshu, can the Dragon Soul really sustain the normal operation of something as enormous as the War Demon God?" Kazuhiko Uchiha asked curiously as he examined the Chiyou Clan's writing in the control room.

Gongshu Chou gently stroked the short beard on his chin and explained to Kazuhiko Uchiha, "Of course. The Dragon Soul is said to be a crystal formed from a fallen star. It holds an unimaginably vast amount of energy."

Kazuhiko Uchiha nodded in understanding, then cast the Fire Charm Technique and coaxed him in a low voice. "I see. Then, Master Gongshu, would you let me admire the Dragon Soul?"

"Of course."

Under the influence of the Fire Charm Technique, Gongshu Chou immediately agreed to Kazuhiko Uchiha's request. He pressed several buttons and activated the mechanism that opened the Nine Suspended Gates, revealing the Dragon Soul hidden in the deepest chamber.

"Thank you, Master Gongshu. Now, have a good rest."

Kazuhiko Uchiha used genjutsu to render Gongshu Chou unconscious, then easily passed through the gates and approached the Dragon Soul, reaching out to seize it.

Sizzle!

The scorching Dragon Soul burned Kazuhiko Uchiha's hands, forcing him to abandon his attempt to take it directly. He summoned the little Pixiu and had it swallow the Dragon Soul.

Deprived of the Dragon Soul, the War Demon God dimmed. Before the Qin soldiers arrived to investigate, Kazuhiko Uchiha once again placed the dormant little Pixiu into his System Space, silently commanded himself to leave, and returned to the Naruto World.

After a brief rest, Kazuhiko Uchiha began reviewing his gains from the mission.

First were the mission gold coins and mission points. Including what he had saved from previous missions, he now had 36 gold coins and 48 points. It seemed that after a few more missions, he would be able to raise his mercenary level to Bronze Grade.

Next came the additional gains from this mission: the divine weapon Chiyou Sword, the divine beast little Pixiu, and the Dragon Soul inside the little Pixiu's belly.

Although the Chiyou Sword was valuable, Kazuhiko Uchiha did not intend to take it out for recycling. Instead, he chose to keep it as a weapon for the transitional period.

The same went for the Dragon Soul. It could accelerate the little Pixiu's growth, which was another way of increasing his own strength.

Finally, there were the improvements to his strength during this mission, including the advancement of his supernatural abilities and Sharingan, his copying of Guigu Swordsmanship, his development of Fire Charm genjutsu, and his techniques for circulating internal energy.

This mission had yielded tremendous gains and could be called perfect. His strength would likely be difficult to improve again in the short term, so for a while, he would focus on physical training, striving to strengthen his body enough to break through and open the powerful Fifth Gate as soon as possible.

Over the course of a week, Kazuhiko Uchiha fully consolidated his strength, and the third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams began.